MEDICAL ANALYSIS:STATISTICS SHOW you are four times more likely to be struck by lightning if you are male.
This fact is thought to reflect the greater participation of men in outdoor activities rather than any unique physiological feature.
The risk of being struck by lightning is increased if you are carrying a metal object such as a golf club, umbrella or helmet.
Lightning is a massive electrical discharge that results from a complex sequence of atmospheric events.
Its effects are unlike electrocution, since the massive impulse is neither direct current nor alternating current.
The extremely high voltage and short duration of a lightning strike lead to a short flow of current that spreads throughout the body.
The greatest physical damage is seen at the point of contact and where the bolt exits from the body.
Surprisingly, burns are not a major feature when lightning strikes a human. But a distinct fern-like pattern on the victim's skin is a sure sign they have been struck by lightning.
In cases of a direct strike the bolt of lightning often enters the body through the eyes, the ears or the mouth.
Its main effect is to cause a short circuit of electrical systems in the body. The principal injuries are to the cardiac and central nervous systems.
The massive current causes the heart to contract at the moment of impact, leading to a period when the heart does not beat at all (asystole).
Alternatively, a jelly -like contraction of the heart called ventricular fibrillation may occur if the electrical discharge strikes during a vulnerable period of the normal cardiac cycle. There may also be direct damage to heart muscle.
When the lightning current passes through the brain it can cause the respiratory centre in the brain to stop functioning (respiratory arrest); if not reversed this can, in turn, lead to potentially fatal rhythm disturbances in the heart. The short circuit of the brain may lead to seizures and temporary muscle paralysis. Loss of consciousness, confusion and amnesia may occur. And for those who survive, chronic pain, numbness and sleep or memory disorders may persist.
Victims who develop either cardiac or respiratory arrest can be saved by emergency medical treatment. However, some people remain in a coma despite resuscitation and die from heart, brain or lung injuries.